2020 Ironstone Vineyards Cabernet Franc Reserve – A Winning Wine Again!
The Winery
Ironstone Vineyards is a lot things: a winery, historical museum, botany center, entertainment venue and much, much more. Located just outside Main Street in Murphys, California in the lower Sierra Nevada foothills, Ironstone Vineyards has a just about anything one desires! The owners John and Gail three years ago celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary and introduced a new label called Kautz and Kramer by their daughter Joan Kautz. That wine new label won at the 3rd International Annual Cabernet Franc Wine Competition in 2022.
Link below provides some additional information:
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2022/06/01/2018-kautz-kramer-a-love-affair-story/
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This year at 2023 the 4th International Annual Cabernet Franc Wine Competition in the Category 1 for California wines ($30 and less), their 2020 Ironstone Vineyards Cabernet Franc Reserve won. It won Best of Class from both the Professional Judges and the People’s Choice Judges!! It also won a Gold Medal from the Professional Judges and a Silver from the People’s Choice Judges.
The Wine “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The 2020 Reserve is made of 85% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes come from their Hay Station vineyard located at 2400 foot elevation enjoying the warm days and cool evenings. 2900 6-pack cases were produced. The wine was aged in small French and American oak barrels for 12 months and bottled at 14.5% alcohol level. Wine Enthusiast rated it 91 points and it retails for $30/bottle.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
On the eyes a radiant purple color and medium viscosity in the glass. On the nose cherry and blackberry swarm the senses. On the palate, dark fruits including plum and black cherry coats the mouth. Secondary flavors of oak, leather and vanilla are present. On the finish, the velvety soft tannins are recognized and yet extremely smooth inviting one to enjoy another sip.
The Food and Wine Pairing “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Pulled the 2020 Ironstone Vineyards Cabernet Franc Reserve specifically for a seared at 1200 degrees and BBQ’d rib eye steak served medium rare. Accompanied by a Yukon Gold potato, sautéed green beans and garlic French bread. The wine provided enough tannins and acidity to match up beautifully with the rib eye steak.
I had not tasted the 2020 Ironstone Cabernet Franc Reserve for several years, but frankly was very pleased on the quality of the wine at that price point. The awards were very deserving.
Sláinte,
Michael